Drying apparatus.



F. RUDOLPH.

DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED was, ISIS.

Patented Maw 29, .1917.

a SHEETS-SHEET I.

'F. RUDOLPH.

DRYING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-5.1915.

Patented May 29, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I km .l. llllll II l W n F. RUDOLPH.

DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.5, 191s.

Patented May 29, 191?.

5 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F. RUDOLPH.

DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AuG.5.191s.

Patented May 29, 1917.

F. RUDOLPH.

DRYING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED AUG.5. 1915 K674 Patented May 29, 1917.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Ann b FRANKLIN RUDOLPH, 0F WINNETKA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN CAN COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

DRYING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May ea, row.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANKLIN RUDOLPH, a citizen of the United States, residing in Winnetka, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in -Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates in general to driers or drying apparatus and has more particular reference to the provision of an apparatus for drying sheets having a coated or partially coated surface.

A principal object of the invention is the provision of a drying apparatus through which sheets of metal and the like having a printed, lacquered or painted surface, may be carried placed closely together and in standing position.

time necessary for complete drying.

A further object of the invention is the I provision of such an apparatus in which the sheets may be carried in standing position for drying through a heated chamber and with the tops and bottom edges of the sheet moving in substantially the same tempera tures so that an evenheat is applied over the entire surface coating.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such an apparatus in which the sheets as they are carried from the feed to the delivery points will receive heat in any desired amount and quality. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of such a drier in which a desired humidity as well as a desired temperature within the necessary limits may be provided.

An additional object of the invention is the provision of an apparatus of the character described utilizing" as a heating medium, gas or other combustible fuel, the casing of such apparatus being so constructed and arranged that explosion may occur without danger to the apparatus or to attendants operating the same.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof.

Onthe drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of one end of an apparatus embodying my invention with a part of the casing broken away to show the internal structure;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other end;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

' Fig. 4: is a top plan view of a portion of the apparatus shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5'is an end view taken from the left viewing Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a section taken vertically through the apparatus; and

.Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic side view on a much reduced scale of the complete apparatus provided merely to show its general construction.

The embodiment of my inventionshown on the drawing comprises an elongated heated chamber through which the sheets are carried. by conveyer, first in reclining position in order that the coating may set, and then in standing position for a. relatively longer period for drying. Y

The conveyer, generally designated at 11, moves thropgh an elongated casing 12 throughout fiche operative part of its travel. The casing 12 is built up of a skeleton frame 13' resting upon legs 14 on the floor or other suitable support. The framework 13 is provided with top, bottom and side plates 15 of non-heat-conducting material which form the casing walls. The conveyer 11 consists of two side chains 16 carrying together a plurality of sheet-advancing elements 17. At the feed end of the machine (Fig. 1) this conveyer is trained over suitable sprocket wheels 18 and 19 placed one set above and in advance of the other so that the travel of the conveyer between them is such as to lift the sheet-advancing elements 17 in positions approaching the horizontal, the chains moving between these sprocket wheels on guiding tracks 20. The set of sprocket wheels 18 is located well up toward the top of the casing and from it the con.-

.veyer. travels upon tracks 21 forwardly in the casing and for another purpose later described. At tliis end of the travel the conthe invention the casing is shown as pro-' vided with two sets of con veyers, although any number of course may be used as found in a wire suitably 'desirable. Each link 26 of each conveyer chain has fastened to it a number of sheet carrying elements, siX being shown connected to each link in the present instance. These sheet carryin elements each consists bent, as seen in Fig. 3, and rigidly fastened at its ends to cooperating links of theconveyer chains. The connection is such that the wire sheet carrying element inclines somewhat rearwardly from a perpendicular to the links to which it is fastened in order that these elements may assume the position shown in the operative parts of the travel of the conveyers. The casing is extended at the feed end at 27 to cover a large part of the travel of the sheet-advancing elements up to the sprocket wheel 18. The bottom 28 of this projection of the casing terminates however above the beginning of this travel a sufficient distance to permit insertion of the sheets upon succeeding sheet-advancing elements. If desired a projecting apron or sheet 29 may be" provided to extend about the lower part of the apparatus at the feed end to prevent the attendant or attendants feeding the sheets into the apparatus from contact with the sheet-advancing elements while coming into operative position. If desired conveyer tightening means 31 may also be provided to control the tension in the conveyer. In the present instance these conveyer tightening means are located at the feed end and serve to move the bearings of" the sprocket wheels 19 and 18 as may be required.

Heating means, consisting in the present instance of steam coils 32 and gas burners 83 are provided, the gas burners 33 giving off water as a product of combustion and consequently a damp heat into the chamber and the steam coils git'in off a relatively dry heat. These coils an gas burners are arranged as indicated generally in Fig. 3 with the coils alternating with the gas burners. They are disposed at the bottom of the casing, i. e. at a distance remote from the travel of the conveyor. This arrangement provides for a substantially even tern erature throughout the coated areas 0 the sheets, being substantially the same at the top edge as at the bottom. In order that this distribution ma be as uniform as possible, a hood or de eetor 34 is placed-. over each gas burner to cause a distribution of the heat of the jets. Outlets 35 are provided for the products of combustion. The tem- .ing elements, which first conve them up in reclining position, that is, horizontally disposed or nearly so at a rate and through a distance which gives sufficient time for the coating to set, i. e. to become sufficiently hard to eliminate danger of running off or collecting at the bottom edge of the sheets when the same are arranged in standing position throughout the subsequent drying operation. After passing the sprocket wheels 18 the sheets stand on edge and are slowly conveyed to the other end of the machine where they are removed by the at tendant, who may grasp a number of them to withdraw them from between the sheet carrying elements. To this end' the conveyer travels a substantial distance beyond the casing at the delivery end.

Suitable doors or removable closures 37 are provided in the extension 27 and in the side walls of the casing in order that access may be had to the conveyer to remove any misplaced sheets and to make any necessary repairs.

The top of the casing is loosely heldin place in order that any internal explosion of collected and previously unburned gas fuel may exhaust itself without serious results. The top sheets on non-heatconducting material are mounted in pairs 41, the adjacent edges 42 of each pair merely resting upon av metal strip 43 extending lengthwise of the casing.

ViewingFig. 7 it will be noted that the casing slopes downwardly from near the entrance or feed end to the final delivery end at its roof, while the bottom of the casing is substantially horizontal. The steam coils and gas burners are arranged near the bottom of the casing and in a plane substantially parallel to it. This causes an approach of the standing sheets to the heating means as they are carried through the easing. In other words, the sheets come constantly nearer the gas jets and steam coils and consequently are receiving heat from r diation in constantly increasing degree as they advance. Heat by convection is felt by them in constantly lessening. amount as they tion.

mam-m the heat through radiation through. the heatin means supplies the desired condihe condition'is controlled by the relation between the application 50f heat of convection-and heat of radiation throughout the travel through the cas'ing,"the control being predetermined and furnished by the position of the top wall of'the casing.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from'the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of; the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its material advantages,

- the .form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment" thereof.

I claim:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a' casing and a conveyer movable therein for conveying the sheets to be dried through the casing a dry' heating means, and a relatively "dampheating means disposed in said casing.

2. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, the combination of a casing, a conveyer for moving sheets to be dried through said casing, dry heating-means, relatively wet or damp heating 'means, and means'for regulating said heating-means to'control the degree of heat and its humidity."

3; In an app aratu'sof the character described, the combination of a casing, a conveyer in said casing for conveying sheets to be'dried through said casing, gasburners and steam-coils mounted within the casing and cooperating to provide a'drying temperature of proper humidity, 4, In anapparatusof thecharacter described, the combination ofa easing, a conveyer movablei therein for conveying'sheets through said casing in a standing position for drying, and heating means located a sufficient distance beneath the operative travel of saidconveyer to insure a substantially even heat at the top and bottom edges of said sheets, said heating means comprising steam ipes and flame burners provided with heat distributing hoods. 5..In an apparatus of the' character described, the combination of an elongated relatively deep easing, a conveyer movable contentstoward its delivery end, a conveyer movin in said casing from its larger end towar its smaller end, and heating means disposed throughout the length of said casing, said casing and heating means being arranged to heat through both radiation and convection in constantly changing ratio of efl'ect as the sheets advance through the casing.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a casing having a closed top consisting of separate slabs .of non-conducting, material removable under internal pressure, and a conveyer moving through said casing and receiving sheets at one end and discharging them at the other.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing, a conveyer movable through said casing, and means for heating the interior of said casing, said means supplying more heat by convection and less by radiation at the feed than at the delivery end.

' 9. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing decreasing in air contents toward its delivery end, a conveyer movable through said casing and heating means disposed in said casing, said heating means and said casing and conveyer being arranged to bring the conveyer closer to the heating means with less heating efi'ect by convection.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANKLIN RUDOLPH.

Witnesses:

JOHN C. CARPENTER JOHN W. MUNDAY. 

